Anti-slip bar for high chairs



March 28, 1967 J. A. HILL ANTI-SLIP BAR FOR HIGH CHAIRS Filed Feb. 16, 1966 IN VENTOR fa/Was I4. f/zf/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,311,410 ANTI-SLIP BAR FOR HIGH CHAIRS James A. Hill, 44 Greenbriar Road, Brockton, Mass. 62401 Filed Feb. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 527,844 4 Claims. (Cl. 297-423) This invention relates to a bar device for use on an infants high chair to restrain the infant from slouching down while seated in the high chair.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a bar element having a transversely curved convex upper surface and a fiat under surface to engage a seat of a high chair adjacent the front edge thereof and fixedly located thereon such that with an infant seated in the high chair the bar element will be disposed under the thighs of the infant close to his knees so as to provide an impediment preventing forward sliding of the infant on the seat into a slouching position. This has been a common problem when an infant is placed in a high chair and compels the mother to constantly move the infant to a sitting position, as when the infant is being fed. The use of the bar element which functions to prevent the infant from sliding forward into a slouching position relieves the mother from this problem and annoyance as well as contributing to the well being of the infant in training him to sit up straight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a slot or recess at each end of the bar element to receive therein a vertical post usually provided at the side panel of the high chair along with one or more other posts which support the arm rail of the high chair, the slot at each end of the bar element coacting with its associated post to hold the bar element in position on the seat.

A still further object of this invention is to provide the end slots of the bar element in longitudinal alignment and located between one longitudinal edge of the bar element and the medial plane passing through the longitudinal center thereof such as to provide two positions for placement of the bar element on the seat, the position selected being determined by the age and/or size of the infant.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide the bar element with other forms of securing means therefor, in lieu of the end slots, so as to permit the attachment of the bar element on the seat of a high chair which may be of a constructional form having side panels that lack the customary vertical posts supporting the arm rails.

Further objects of the invention will apear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bar element.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bar element positioned on the seat of a high chair showing the relation of the same to an infant seated in the high chair.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the bar element on the seat of the high chair taken on line 3-3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view taken on line 44, FIG. 3, of the bar element in position.

FIG. 5 shows an end portion of a modified form of bar element.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6, FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another modified form of bar element.

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Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be seen, see FIG. 1, that the anti-slip bar element 10 is formed of an elongated strip of wood, rubber, plastic or any other suitable material having parallel edges 12, 14 and parallel end side surfaces 16, 18. The bar element 10 has a fiat under side or bottom 20 and a transversely curved convex upper side or top 22, the curvature being uniform with relation to the bottom and being highest along the medial longitudinal center plane of the bar element 10 as indicated by line aa, such that the bar element in cross-section is symmetrical on each side of said plane. Extending inwardly from each of the end sides 16, 18 of the bar element 10 is a slot or notch 24, 26. The slots 24, 26 are in longitudinal alignment and are disposed between the edge 14 of the bar element 10 and the longitudinal center plane thereof along line aa. This location of the slots 24, 26 divide the curved top 22 of the bar element 19 into two portions 28, 30 of unequal width, the shorter width portion 28 extending from edge 14 to the slots 24, 26 while the longer width portion 30 extends from the other edge 12 to the slots 24, 26 all for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The bar element 10 formed as hereinabove described is adapted for use with a high chair 34 of conventional design, see FIG. 2, provided with a seat 36, a back 38 and vertical side panels 40 which include an upper arm rail 42 and spaced vertical supporting posts 44. As will be seen, see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the bar element 10 is positioned on the seat 36 with its flat bottom 20 engaging the upper surface of seat 36, and the forward vertical posts 44 of each side panel 40 being received in the end slots 24, 26. By virtue of this relationship of posts and end slots, the bar element 10 is held in locked position on the seat 36 against movement in either direction both longitudinally and transversely.

To place the bar element 10 in position on the seat 36 it is first necessary to place the same in the inclined position shown by the dotted lines, see FIG. 3, with each end slot in opposed relation to an adjacent forward vertical post 44. Then by moving the bar element 10 down to a horizontal position, the slots 24, 26 will be brought each into receiving relation with an associated vertical post 44 to effect the above described locked position. As practically all high chairs having side panels with vertical posts are of substantially the same dimensions insofar as the seat and such side panels are concerned (to seat an infant), the distance x between the bottoms of the slots 24, 26, see FIG. 1, is made to be somewhat less than the distance y between the vertical posts 44, see FIG. 3, such that the bar element 10 will practically fit all such high chairs. Thus, the dimensions of such a bar element 10 are as follows: length 13% inches, width 2 /2 inches, thickness at medial longitudinal center plane /2 inch, and slots inch both in width and length.

Viewing FIG. 2, it will be seen that the anti-slip bar element 10 is placed in position such that the shorter width portion 2 8 is forwardly disposed. When the infant is young and small this position of the bar element 10 will interpose the larger width 30 beneath his thighs and not interfere With his seating on the seat 36. In other words the infant will not sit on this part of the bar element. When the infant is older and larger, the bar element is reversed so that the larger width portion 30 is forwardly disposed thereby providing additional room on the seat 36 for the infant to sit on.

By virtue of the placement of the bar element 10 on the seat 36 beneath the thighs of the infant and back of the knees, the bar element will interpose an elevated barrier or restrain-t acting to prevent forward sliding of the infant into a slouching position and will thus function to hold the infant in an erect seated position. The upper curved surface 22 of the bar element 10, elevated by only /2 inch from the surface of the seat, will in no way offer 7 any discomfort to the infant. Preferably, the upper curved surface 22 of the bar element 10 is rendered antislip or non-sliding, e.g., by covering the same with a thin lamination 46 having anti-slip properties such as foam rubber, sheet rubber, fabric, plastic, paint or any other suitable material.

Where a high chair is constructed with side panels that are solid, as for example, of sheet metal or plywood, the bar element of FIGS. 1-4 is not applicable. Accordingly other forms of holding means are required. One such form is shown in FIGS. and 6. Adjacent each end side 48 of a bar element having the same shape as the bar element 10 there is provided a transverse groove 50 in the bottom thereof which terminates short of the side edges 52, 54 of the bar element. Extending from each end of the groove 50 is an upwardly and outwardly inclined bore 56 that is elongated, see FIG. 5, in the direction of the length of the bar element 10 Inserted through the bores 56 are a pair of cords or thongs 58, the portions thereof between said bores lying within the groove 50. Thus, with the bar element 10 placed in proper position on the seat of the high chair to accommodate the size of infant as set forth hereinabove, the forwardly extending cords 58, at each end of the bar ele ment 1i are secured to the front legs of the high chair, and similarly the rearwardly extending cords are secured to the back legs of the high chair, to thereby securely fasten the bar element 10* in relation to the seat of the high chair. The bar element 10 cannot slide backward or forward on the fastened cords 58 due to the inclination of bores 56, and thus the position of the bar element on the high chair seat with relation to the spacing of the forward edge thereof from the front edge of the seat is fixed.

Another manner of securing the bar element to a high chair seat is shown in FIG. 7. In this case the bar element 10 is provided in its bottom adjacent each and side with a recess 60. A grommet 62 is fitted in the bar element 10* between the bottom of the recess 60 and the curved upper surface of the bar element in axial relation to the recess 60, the grommet having an internally threaded bore 64. The flanged upper end of the grommet 62 is seen to lie flush with the upper surface of the bar element. Positioned within each recess 60 is a rubber suction cup 66 carrying an axial threaded stem 625 mounted in the threaded bore 64 of the grommet 62. The position of the suction cup 66 at each end of the bar element 10* may be suitably adjusted so that when flattened out in the placement and attachment of the bar element 10 in its selected position, the flat underside of the bar element 10* will be substantially in engagement with the-surface of the seat. As with the bar element 10 and 10 the bar element 10 may be selectively positioned on the high chair seat to accommodate the size of the infant.

What I claim is:

1. For use with an infants high chair having a seat and opposed side panels wherein each side panel includes at least one vertical post adjacent the forward edge of the seat, an infant anti-slip device comprising:

(a) an elongated bar element having a fiat bottom, a

transversely curved convex top and end sides,

(b) a slot extending inwardly of said bar from each end side thereof and in longitudinal alignment,

(c) each said slot having an inner end wall and with the end walls spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the opposed vertical posts of said side panels,

((1) said bar element in use engaging said seat and extending between said side panels with the curved top uppermost and with each slot receiving therein a vertical post of an adjacent side panel such as to retain the bar element in fixed relation on said seat adjacent the front edge thereof.

2. The infant anti-slip device of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said slots in their longitudinal alignment being located between one longitudinal edge of the bar element and the medial longitudinal vertical plane thereof so as to provide the bar element with a pair of curved surfaces, one on each side of said slots, and of unequal width,

whereby in the placement of the bar element on the high chair seat having its said curved surface of less width directed forwardly, the area of the seating surface on the high chair seat thus established will accommodate a younger or small size infant, while on reversing the placement of the bar element with its said curved surface of greater width directed forwardly, the area of the seating surface thereby established will accommodate an older or larger size infant.

3. The infant anti-slip device of claim 2, wherein:

(a) said bar element has parallel edges formed by the juncture of the curved top with the fiat bottom and in transverse cross-section is symmetrical about a vertical medial longitudinal plane thereof.

4. The infant anti-slip device of claim 3, including:

(a) a covering friction surface on the curved top of the bar element having anti-slip properties.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,172,103 2/1916 Bennett 297-385 1,964,193 6/1934 Burnett 272-58 2,528,317 10/1950 Newman 182-120 2,934,135 4/1960 Lesh 297-148 3,029,547 4/ 1962 Ross et al. 248-206 3,111,193 11/1963 McKinnie 182-120 X 3,167,351 1/ 1965 Butler 297-423 3,259,425 7/1966 Chitwood 297-148 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Exmniner.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Examiner. 

1. FOR USE WITH AN INFANT''S HIGH CHAIR HAVING A SEAT AND OPPOSED SIDE PANELS WHEREIN EACH SIDE PANEL INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL POST ADJACENT THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE SEAT, AN INFANT ANTI-SLIP DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED BAR ELEMENT HAVING A FLAT BOTTOM, A TRANSVERSELY CURVED CONVEX TOP AND END SIDES, (B) A SLOT EXTENDING INWARDLY OF SAID BAR FROM EACH END SIDE THEREOF AND IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT, (C) EACH SAID SLOT HAVING AN INNER END WALL AND WITH THE END WALLS SPACED APART A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE OPPOSED VERTICAL POSTS OF SAID SAID PANELS, (D) SAID BAR ELEMENT IN USE ENGAGING SAID SEAT AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE PANELS WITH THE CURVED TOP UPPERMOST AND WITH EACH SLOT RECEIVING THEREIN A VERTICAL POST OF AN ADJACENT SIDE PANEL SUCH AS TO RETAIN THE BAR ELEMENT IN FIXED RELATION ON SAID SEAT ADJACENT THE FRONT EDGE THEREOF. 